Key to the workers of the C. degeeri -species-assemblage in the Malagasy region

1. Propodeal spines absent, reduced to small tubercules or denticles (as in Figs 10E; 12C; 13B; 18C; 20B), or short triangular spines (as in Fig. 17C) with SPI <0.07; if very rarely propodeal spines spiniform and longer (SPI 0.08 - 0.10) (as in Fig. 6B), then small species (HW 0.72 - 0.88, WL 0.79 - 0.91), color dirty-yellow, montane rainforest habitats....................................................................... 2

– Propodeal spines longer, distinctly spiniform (as in Figs 7B; 8B; 10B; 15B; 22B) and SPI> 0.07; size and color variable; all habitats.................................................................................................... 9

2. Eyes small (OI <0.21) and largely confluent with lateral head margin (as in Fig. 12A; 13A; 18A) .... 3

– Eyes larger (OI> 0.20) and distinctly protruding from lateral head margin (as in Figs 6A; 17A; 20A)......6

3. Pronotum dorsally with a distinct median longitudinal groove (Fig. 4E), medium to large species (HW 0.98 - 1.43, WL 0.98 - 1.48) .............................................................................. C. mafybe sp. nov.

– Pronotum dorsally without median longitudinal groove (as e.g. Figs 4F; 18D), size variable ........ 4

4. Propodeum with spines absent or at most small tubercules (SPI 0.00) ........... C. lobata Emery, 1895

– Propodeum with short triangular spines or sharp minute denticles................................................... 5

5. Antennal scapes very short (SI 0.67 - 0.75), not reaching head margin (as in Fig. 18A); mesonotum usually with posterolateral denticles (as in Fig. 18C)......................................... C. masokely sp. nov.

– Antennal scapes variable, but usually longer (SI 0.69 - 0.82) and about reaching head margin (as in Fig. 10A, D); mesonotum usually without posterolateral denticles (as in Fig. 10B, E)...................... ...................................................................................... C. dentata Dalla Torre, 1893 stat. nov. [part]

6. Eyes very large (OI 0.24 - 0.29), situated above midline of head in full-face view (as in Fig. 20A); antennal scapes mostly longer (SI 0.77 - 0.87), reaching or surpassing head margin; bicolored: head and thorax yellowish to dark orange, metasoma with A4-7 brown or black (as in Fig. 20B, C) ..................................................................................................................... C. sewellii Forel, 1891

– Eyes mostly smaller (OI 0.20 - 0.26), usually situated at midline of head in full-face view (as e.g. Figs 6A; 10A, D; 17A); antennal scapes variable, but often shorter (SI 0.69 - 0.83), just about or not reaching head margin (as e.g. Figs 6A; 10A, D; 17A); color variable .............................................. 7

7. Propodeum usually distinctly set off from promesonotum in lateral view (Figs 6B; 17C) and often with posterolateral denticles; promesonotum with sparse erect pilosity (<8 setae); petiole often much wider than long (PTWI 1.18 - 1.52), and strongly flared (as in e.g. Fig. 3C)............................ 8

– Propodeum not distinctly set off from promesonotum (in lateral view) (Fig. 10B, E), never with distinct posterolateral denticles; promesonotum usually with abundant erect pilosity (>8 setae); petiole not much wider than long (PTWI 0.95 - 1.31), moderately flared (Fig. 3D)............................. ...................................................................................... C. dentata Dalla Torre, 1893 stat. nov. [part]

8. Medium-sized species (HW 0.86 - 1.03, WL 0.92 - 1.08); propodeal spines short and triangular (SPI 0.03 - 0.07); pronotum with sharp lateral margins (Fig. 5A)................................ C. malahelo sp. nov.

– Small species (HW 0.72 - 0.88, WL 0.79 - 0.91); propodeal spines longer (SPI 0.06 - 0.10); pronotum lacking sharp lateral margins (Fig. 5B) ................................................................. C. alafara sp. nov.

9. Body color dirty to bright yellow (as in Fig. 7B, 15B).................................................................... 10

– Predominant color either orange (as in Fig. 20B), brown (e.g. as in Fig. 19C) or black (e.g. as in Fig. 8B) ....................................................................................................................................................11

10. Medium to large species (HW 0.87 - 1.03, WL 0.98 - 1.22); antennal scapes very long (SI 0.91 - 1.01), easily surpassing head margin (as in Fig. 7A) ............................................................ C. bara sp. nov.

– Small species (HW 0.60 - 0.86, WL 0.66 - 0.93); antennal scapes short (SI 0.71 - 0.83), not or about reaching head margin (as in Fig. 15A) .................................................................... C. maina sp. nov.

11. Head distinctly broader than long (CI 1.10 - 1.19) (as in Fig. 22A); propodeal spines longer (SPI 0.10 - 0.26); tricolored: orange-red, yellow and black (as in Fig. 22C) C. tricolor Gerstäcker, 1859 stat. rev.

– Head not much broader than long (CI 1.01 - 1.13); propodeal spines shorter (SPI <0.16); (as e.g. Figs 8A; 10A, D; 19A); uniformly colored or bicolored......................................................................... 12

12. Mesonotum often with posterolateral denticles (Fig. 5C); in lateral view distinctly set off from propodeum (Fig. 5C); eyes large (OI 0.22 - 0.26); propodeal spines longer (SPI 0.10 - 0.16); erect pilosity on promesonotum often sparse (<8 long erect setae) (as e.g. Figs 5C; 8B) ........ C. degeeri Forel, 1886

– Mesonotum variable, but more often without posterolateral denticles, and thus in lateral view not as distinctly set off from promesonotum (Fig. 5D); erect pilosity usually more abundant (> 8 long erect setae) (as in Fig. 5D, E); propodeal spines shorter (SPI <0.12) ..................................................... 13

13. Propodeum with a distinct short dorsal face, and with a transverse impression (Fig. 5E); sculpture on pronotum carinulate or reticulate (Fig. 5E); petiole oval, fairly slender; (PTWI 0.95 - 1.14); propodeal spines longer (SPI 0.07 - 0.12) ............................................................................... C. ramamy sp. nov.

– Propodeum usually without a distinct dorsal face, never with transverse impression (Fig. 5F); sculpture on propodeum rugulose or aciculate (Fig. 5F); petiole variable, but often wider (PTWI 0.95 - 1.31); propodeal spines usually shorter (SPI 0.01 - 0.10) ........... C. dentata Dalla Torre, 1893 stat. nov. [part]

Key to the queens of the C. degeeri -species-assemblage in the Malagasy region

1. Small queens (HW <1.30, WL <2.20) ............................................................................................. 2

– Large queens (HW> 1.30, WL> 2.20) ............................................................................................. 5

2. Head shape variable, but usually elongate, appearing longer than wide (CI 0.94 - 1.03) (as in Figs 6F; 11A; 16A); eyes smaller (OI <0.32), situated below midline of head in full-face view (as in Figs 6F; 11A; 16A); antennal scapes shorter, often not surpassing level of lateral ocelli (SI <0.67).............. 3

– Head shape square, appearing as wide as long (CI 1.06); eyes larger (OI> 0.33), situated at midline of head in full-face view (as in Fig. 20D); antennal scapes longer, surpassing level of lateral ocelli (SI> 0.68) (as in Fig. 20D); ............................................................................ C. sewellii Forel, 1891

3. Body color brown .............................................................................................................................. 4

– Body color yellow.................................................................................................... C. maina sp. nov.

4. Very small species (HW 1.01, WL 1.68); head sculpture finely reticulate; ocelli small and protruding very little from head surface (as in Fig. 6F) .......................................................... C. alafara sp. nov.

– Larger species (HW 1.13 - 1.41, WL 1.73 - 2.43); head sculpture aciculate-shiny; ocelli distinctly protruding from head surface (as in Fig. 11A) ............. C. dentata Dalla Torre, 1893 stat. nov. [part]

5. Antennal scapes long, surpassing lateral ocelli easily and almost reaching head margin (SI> 0.76) (as in Fig. 7F); body color yellow .............................................................................. C. bara sp. nov.

– Antennal scapes shorter (SI <0.74) (as in Figs 8D; 13D; 22D); body color other than yellow ....... 6

6. Eyes small (OI 0.23 - 0.26); antennal scapes very short (SI 0.57 - 0.59) (as in Fig. 13D); large queens (HW 1.70 - 2.18, WL 2.56 - 3.44); color black .......................................................... C. mafybe sp. nov.

– Eyes usually larger (OI 0.25 - 0.33) (as in Figs 8D; 22D); antennal scapes mostly longer (SI 0.57 - 0.74) (as in Figs 8D, 22D); usually smaller queens (HW 1.30 - 1.77, WL 2.20 - 2.69); color variable, usually not black................................................................................................................................ 7

7. Head distinctly wider than long (CI 1.14 - 1.21) (as in Fig. 22D); tricolored: reddish-orange, yellow and black (as worker in Fig. 22C); or at least abdominal segment 4 dorsally with a yellowish patch (as in Fig. 22F).......................................................................... C. tricolor Gerstäcker, 1859 stat. rev.

– Head shape variable, but usually not much wider than long (CI <1.10) (as in Fig. 8D); uniformly colored ............................................................................................................................................... 8

8. Eyes situated at about midline of head in full-face view (as in Fig. 8D); antennal scapes longer (SI 0.68 - 0.72), surpassing level of lateral ocelli.................................................... C. degeeri Forel, 1886

– Eyes situated below midline of head in full-face view (as in Fig. 11A); antennal scapes shorter (SI 0.57 - 0.67), not surpassing level of lateral ocelli.......................... C. dentata Dalla Torre, 1893 [part]